Latest California Healthline Stories
Medicare Eases Readmission Penalties Against Safety-Net Hospitals
In California, Medicare penalized about three-quarters of the 292 hospitals it evaluated. But many that serve a large share of low-income patients will lose less money than they did in previous years.
Putting Oversized Health Care Costs Upfront — On T-Shirts
The Maryland Health Care Commission has created a consumer education campaign that puts the costs of common health care procedures on a place where people might see them – T-shirts.
Must-Reads Of The Week From Brianna Labuskes
Newsletter editor Brianna Labuskes wades through hundreds of health articles from the week so you don’t have to.
As California Hospitals Sweep Up Physician Practices, Patients See Higher Bills
A Health Affairs study quantifies the financial effects of such mergers on consumers and their insurers. The hospital industry and doctor practices say the consolidation leads to better coordination of care.
Legisladores presionan para proteger a los pacientes y llevarle la contra a Trump
Los legisladores de California jugaron ataque y defensa este año en el tema de salud, promulgando proyectos para ampliar el acceso a la vez que desafiando a las normas de Trump.
Lawmakers Push To Protect Patients And Counter Trump
California legislators approved some significant health care proposals in their rush to meet the Friday end-of-session deadline. They tackled controversial topics, such as making abortion pills available on college campuses, and adopted measures countering Trump administration attacks on the Affordable Care Act.
Hospital baja cuenta de $109,000 a $332… ¿qué pasa con las facturas sorpresa?
El hospital St. David’s Medical Center, en Austin, Texas, bajó una cuenta médica drásticamente. ¿Por qué fue tan alta en principio? ¿Qué pasa con las cuentas sorpresa?
Must-Reads Of The Week From Brianna Labuskes
Newsletter editor Brianna Labuskes wades through hundreds of health articles from the week so you don’t have to.
The $109K Heart Attack Bill Is Down To $332. What About Other Surprise Bills?
“I don’t feel any consumer should have to go through this,” says Drew Calver, who faced a life-changing surprise bill from an Austin hospital after a heart attack last year. After attention as a “Bill of the Month” patient, he paid the hospital $332. But he worries about other patients with surprise bills.
Watch: What Happened To That $109,000 Heart Attack
The story of a Texas teacher who faced a surprise “balance bill” of almost twice his annual salary gets a surprise happy ending.